The Provisional Government of the French
Republic (gouvernement provisoire de la République
française or GPRF) was an interim government which
governed France from 1944 to 1946, following the fall of Vichy France and
prior to the Fourth French
Republic.

The provisional government considered that the Vichy government
had been unconstitutional and thus that all its actions had been
illegal. All statutes, laws, regulations and decisions by the Vichy
government were thus made null and devoid of effects. However,
since mass cancellation of all decisions taken by Vichy, including
many that could have been taken as well by Republican governments,
was impractical, it was decided that cancellation was to be
expressly acknowledged by the government. A number of laws and acts
were however explicitly repealed, including all constitutional
acts, all laws discriminating against Jews, all acts against
"secret societies" (e.g. Freemasons), and all acts creating special
tribunals.[1]

The provisional government also took steps to replace local
governments, including governments that had been suppressed by the
Vichy regime, through new elections or by extending the terms of
those who had been elected no later than 1939.[2]